French Polishing
Before applying the polish layers, it is important to fill wood pores with small amounts of fine pumice powder; crushed volcanic glass. After this preparation, many thin coats of natural resin of lac insects (shellac) dissolved in alcohol are applied by using a rubbing pad. Oil is added as a lubricant.
Suri Urushi
Urushi is made from the natural resin of the Asian lacquer tree and is used to protect and provide a beautiful gloss to furniture, bowls, boxes, handles and jewelry. It is a very sustainable lacquer finishing: once fully hardened, Urushi is resistant to water, heat, alcohol, acids, alkaline solutions and ageing.
One of the Urushi techniques is Suri (rubbing) Urushi. Traditionally, the procedure consists of applying many thin layers of Ki-Urushi (unpurified Urushi).
Read here how to care for fine natural Urushi lacquerware, or download the document as a pdf
Other available finishing options: beeswax, natural oil.